3 Goshen boys suspended after pricking 16 children with needles.

3 Goshen boys suspended after pricking 16 children with needles.

GOSHEN -- The Elkhart Health Department has tested 16 Goshen Middle School students who officials say were pricked with a needle at the school by other students Tuesday. Three eighth-grade boys brought to school four small needles, such as those used by diabetics, and began poking fellow students in the arms and legs, officials said. The boys also were pricked and tested. Blood tests have been sent to a state lab in Indianapolis and the results will show if any of the students were infected with HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C, said Dr. Aixsa Perez of the Elkhart Health Department. All three boys have been accused of battery by the Goshen Police Department, and the cases have been forwarded to the Elkhart County prosecutor's office. Two of the boys have been released to their parents, while the third is in juvenile detention. One of the boys reportedly took the needles from his father's girlfriend. Authorities do not know what the students' motivations were. "Poor judgment," said Kevin Miller, the school's resource officer. The initial investigation found 10 to 12 students were pricked, Superintendent Bruce Stahly said, and more checking Wednesday turned up more. Officials are urging others who have been pricked to come forward. Many of the parents of the students who were pricked received phone calls Tuesday night. The school corporation sent letters to all parents Wednesday, Stahly said. "It's very disappointing the students did not recognize the (potential) problems," Stahly said of the students with the needles. "We can't tolerate this kind of thing." Testing was done at school to save parents the cost, Stahly said. The three students accused of poking the others are suspended and face expulsion, Stahly said.